Method for tagged bar code data interchange

ABSTRACT

A method of tagged bar code data interchange includes creating electronic and/or printed documents with tagged bar coded information, capturing and decoding the tagged bar coded information, caching the tagged bar coded information, parsing the bar coded data tags, stripping the data tags, and inputting/storing the bar coded information. Business can be conducted on-line using e-mail transmissions of video displayed tagged bar coded information. Such tagged bar coded information can be stored and/or input into style sheets that are in common or company-specific formats. Further, companies can receive consumer information in a format that is easily accessible by any portion, affiliate, subsidiary, or related entity of the company, no matter what software system is running.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/847,994 filed May18, 2004 which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/158,718 filed May30, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,009, which claims benefit ofProvisional Ser. No. 60/294,375 filed May 30, 2001, herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to bar code technology, and moreparticularly, though not exclusively, to a method and apparatus forcreating electronic and/or printed documents with tagged bar codedinformation, capturing and decoding the tagged bar coded informationfrom a variety of video displays and/or printed media, caching thetagged bar coded information, parsing the bar coded data tags, strippingthe data tags, and inputting the bar coded information into a variety ofapplications.

2. Problems in the Art

The explosion of electronic commerce has driven companies to seek newmethods and means by which to reach businesses and consumers. While the.COM frenzy has faded, companies continue to view the Internet as anunder utilized resource for business. Not only does this raise issuesconcerning disparate systems, but current methodologies for Internet andIntranet trade require getting connected, costly administrators, andsophisticated fulfillment and processing techniques.

Currently, electronic data interchange (EDI) has a relatively lowadoption level, and is limited mainly to large companies. Standards forEDI are still under discussion and are expected to evolve slowly. As aresult, users must have applications that can extract data from internalsystems, format this data into EDI transaction sets, and partners mustbe capable of accepting these formats. Accomplishing this generallyrequires negotiation to determine the level of interaction between theparties exchanging information, security, and issues like timing ofcommunications.

Custom EDI applications use sophisticated computer software such as IBMDB2, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or other programs, commonly referredto as middleware, in computer to computer data interchange applications.This middleware is expensive and requires a trained computer programmerto establish and maintain the data transfer links. Furthermore,middleware is not flexible. As business trading partners and supplierschange, and/or the format of data storage is modified in a hostcomputer, the service of a trained computer programmer is required tomaintain the data interchange capabilities. It is therefore desirable tominimize the amount of middleware software required.

Major retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, and Dayton Hudson have all butexcluded small suppliers due to their EDI requirements. Small companiesnot possessing the infrastructure and/or volume to justify EDIinvestments have been excluded by major companies. This has raised aninteresting dilemma for business: whether to allow system constraints todrive business practices or to allow business practices to drivesystems.

In addition, many different forms of Extensible Markup Language (XML)are currently used by many firms as a means to format transaction sets.When XML is used to transmit tagged electronic data, systems on bothends of the transaction must support the import and export of XMLdocuments. XML is not a transport mechanism, but rather a formattingtool. Most users would agree that XML is neither easy nor cheap toimplement. To use XML efficiently, most software processes will requirere-engineering, not simply adding XML to the existing process. Inaddition, more bandwidth is required to interact with XML-enableddocuments.

Many large businesses have positioned themselves to conduct businessonline, but due to the costs and complexity associated with electroniccommerce, their vendors have not been quick to follow. However, giventhe cost savings benefits of on-line businesses, these companies will bemore willing to find new suppliers and trading partners online ratherthan by traditional means.

During the past decade, acquisitions and mergers have also escalated ata rapid pace as more and more companies posture for a piece ofinternational trade. As economies continue to open, companies willcontinue to aggressively pursue strategic alliances to capitalize onthese opportunities. To date, an overriding consideration in suchalliances has been complex conversion and information exchange issues.While the Internet has done much to free the information flow, thecompatibility of legacy hardware and software remains paramount.

Video Bar Codes (VBC) were developed as a new method to capture, store,and exchange bar coded information from video displays. Video Bar Codesare described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/753,863, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BAR CODE DATA INTERCHANGE,to Melick, et al, incorporated herein by reference.

Even though VBCs offer a new business method that utilize the historicalbenefits of bar codes to address shortcomings associated with digitaldata, a specific method has not been described for use as a means for“EDI/XML type” transactions.

There is therefore an unfilled need for a method and apparatus whichsolves these and other problems.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

A general feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for tagged bar code data interchange which overcomes theproblems found in the prior art.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodof bar code data interchange which minimizes the need for custom and/orsophisticated middleware.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision a method ofbar code data interchange which allows for data to be exchanged betweencomputers using different operating systems.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodof bar code data interchange in which data may be exchanged betweendifferent computer software applications.

Another feature of the present invention is a method of bar code datainterchange which uses tagged bar codes within a video displayeddocument.

Another feature of the present invention is a method of bar code datainterchange which uses tagged bar codes within a printed document.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange which allowsbusiness-consumer transactions via video displayed bar codes.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange which allowsbusiness-consumer transactions via printed bar codes.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange which allowsbusiness-business transactions via video displayed bar codes.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand apparatus for bar code data interchange which allowsbusiness-business transactions via printed bar codes.

These, as well as other features and advantages of the presentinvention, will become apparent from the following specification andclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for bar codedata interchange. Generally, the present invention includes creatingelectronic and/or printed documents with tagged bar coded information,capturing and decoding the tagged bar coded information from a varietyof video displays and/or printed media, caching the tagged bar codedinformation, parsing the bar coded data tags, stripping the data tags,and inputting the bar coded information into a variety of applications.

This method and apparatus for interchanging tagged and/or un-tagged barcoded data can be used in a variety of computer platforms, such as, butnot limited to, a stand-alone software package, integrated in operatingsystems such as Windows™, Unix, Linux, etc., integrated into customsoftware applications such as QuickBooks Pro 2001 by Intuit, as aweb-based system, or as a web-based system which is a combination ofExtensible Markup Language (XML) and tagged video bar coded data.

In a preferred embodiment, a business user or consumer will use anintegrated software system to create electronic generated documentswhich include tagged bar coded information, create specific style sheetsto define bar coded data tags, publish documents with tagged bar codedinformation, scan video displayed or printed documents with a high scanrate LED bar code reader to capture tagged bar coded information, cachetagged bar coded information, parse the tagged bar coded information andapplicable software applications, strip the bar coded data tags, inputstripped bar coded data into the applicable software application.

This scanned information is not formatted specifically for anybusiness/consumer software and therefore is easily transferable betweenbusinesses/consumers which may use different software applications tomanipulate the same data to suit their needs. This minimizes the needfor many of the conversion programs or interpretation programs, commonlyknown as middleware, and provides data interchange across a wide varietyof settings for a myriad of purposes.

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus for bar codedata interchange will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as wellas a realization of the additional features and advantages thereof, by aconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment. Reference will be made to the appended drawings which willfirst be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of the preferred method of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a document containing tagged barcodes.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of a style sheet used by the“sending company” to identify the fields and tags for the bar codesshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a style sheet used by the“receiving company” to identify the fields and tags to receive the barcodes shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is pictorial representation of a style sheet used to identify thefields and tags for the tagged two-dimensional bar coded data shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of a data cache.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of the “receiving company's”software application which receives data from the data cache depicted inFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an example of data and data tags contained in atwo-dimensional bar code.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of a data cache which has receivedthe two-dimensional, tagged bar coded data represented in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally comprised of a method and apparatusfor a programmable data interchange medium for integrated softwareapplications. This method and apparatus of the present invention forinterchanging tagged and/or un-tagged bar coded data can be used in avariety of computer platforms, such as, but not limited to, astand-alone software package, integrated in operating systems such asWindows™, Unix, Linux, etc., integrated into custom softwareapplications such as QuickBooks Pro 2001 by Intuit, as a web-basedsystem, or as a web-based system which is a combination of ExtensibleMarkup Language (XML) and tagged video bar coded data. These bar codesmay be either standardized or proprietary bar code formats. Commonstandardized 1D and 2D bar code formats include Code 39, Code 128,Interleaved 2 of 5, or PDF 417.

In a preferred embodiment a business user or consumer will createelectronic generated documents which include one-dimensional, tagged barcoded information, create specific style sheets to define bar coded datatags, publish documents with tagged bar coded information, scan videodisplayed or printed documents with a high scan rate LED bar code readerto capture tagged bar coded information, cache tagged bar codedinformation, parse the tagged bar coded information and applicablesoftware applications, strip the bar coded data tags, and input strippedbar coded data into the applicable software application as shown in FIG.1.

Initially, a user of the present invention will make a decision 101 totag or not tag bar codes in an electronic document. If the tagged barcodes are required, the user will create a style sheet file 102. Anexample of a style sheet used by a sender is shown in FIG. 3. The stylesheet will be capable of automatically generating an identifier, such asthe number 12345 as shown in FIG. 3, or the sender may choose tomanually assign a specific identifier. The style sheet identifier is ahyperlink to the style sheet file 102, which is used by electronicdocument “A” 103, to decode tagged bar coded data.

Style sheet file 102, is stored in a library 110. Library 110 may use alocal hard drive 111, or network hard drive 113 to store this file.Optionally, style sheet file 102 may be e-mailed to a selected user 112.

A style sheet file 102 is used to create an electronic document “A” 103with tagged bar codes. An example of document “A” 103 is depicted inFIG. 2 using software such as MICROSOFT EXCEL or WORD on a PC to createan electronic document. In the present invention, such software createsdocuments that contain electronic representations of bar codedinformation through the use of bar code fonts which reside on the localcomputer and are commonly available today from companies such as Azalea,TAL Technologies and Wasp Bar Code.

If the decision 101 does not require data tagging and parsing anelectronic document “A” 103 is created with un-tagged bar codes.Electronic document “A” 103 is posted 104, to a library 110. Library 110may use a local hard drive 111, or network hard drive 113 to storeelectronic document “A” 103. Optionally, electronic document “A” 103 maybe e-mailed to a selected user 112.

A receiver 121 opens electronic document “A” 103 in a window on theircomputer. The receiver 121 also opens electronic document “B” (as shownin FIG. 7) 122, in a separate window on their computer in order toreceive bar coded data contained in electronic document “A” 103.

A decision 123 is made to determine if electronic documents “A” 103 and“B” 122 use a style sheet file 102. Integrated software, such asIntuit's Quicken, QuickBooks, QuickBooksPro, etc. would incorporateparsing software, such as SAX commonly available from companies such asStellent and, according to the present invention, and use style sheetsin two ways. In the first method, a common style sheet is used by bothsender and receiver. When a common style sheet is used, the style sheetidentifier is scanned 124 in document “A” 104 in order to launch thehyperlink to open the style sheet file 102, stored in library 110.

In the second method, two style sheets each using different “functionkey tags” to represent the same data fields can be used. When twodifferent style sheets are used in step 124, the parsing and data cacheapplication will allow the user to scan the sender's style sheetidentifier and also the receiver's style sheet identifier (as shown inFIG. 4) and cross-correlate them as shown in FIG. 6.

In step 125, the style sheet file is loaded into the parsing and datacache application of the integrated software.

In step 126, the receiver scans tagged bar codes in electronic document“A” 103. The scanned tagged bar coded data is parsed and sent to a datacache, as shown in FIG. 6. In step 127, the parsing and data cacheapplication use logic and computer routines to identify the scanned barcoded data by “function key tag”, match the scanned bar coded data tothe appropriate field in electronic document “B” 122, strip the“function key tag”, and input the stripped bar coded data into theappropriate field in electronic document “B” 122.

In step 123, if the decision is made that electronic documents “A” 103and “B” 122 do not require a style sheet, the receiver in step 129,scans the un-tagged bar coded information and manually chooses theappropriate field to input the data into electronic document “B” 122.

In step 128, the receiver makes a decision to scan another document barcoded electronic document, or to end the bar code data interchange.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a business user orconsumer will create electronic generated documents which includetwo-dimensional, tagged bar coded information, create specific stylesheets to define bar coded data tags, publish documents with tagged barcoded information, scan video displayed or printed documents with a highscan rate LED bar code reader to capture tagged bar coded information,cache tagged bar coded information, parse the tagged bar codedinformation, strip the bar coded data tags, and input stripped bar codeddata into the applicable software application as shown in FIG. 1.

All the steps described in the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention apply to the alternate embodiment of the present invention.The difference between the two embodiments is the type of data taggingused to identify data. For instance, 2-D bar codes may use the GeneralMotors common shipping label format, GM 1724-A, or another industryspecific format for tagged information.

The sender's field tags can be identified using tags such as XML tags or“function key tags” F01, F02, F03, etc., which relate to “F1, F2, F3”respectively on a standard computer keyboard. As an example, twocompanies might agree to exchange data for various customers containedin their respective databases: first name, last name, and age. Using theappropriate “function key tag” in the style sheet to identify particulardata elements, the two companies would agree the “function key tag” forfirst name data is F01, the “function key tag” for last name data isF02, and the “function key tag” for age data is F03. The style sheetwould be programmable on-the-fly using the style sheet to tag datafields with the appropriate “function key tag”. The style sheet wouldalso automatically tag the data elements from the database with theappropriate “function key tag”.

This embodiment of the present invention greatly reduces the number oftransaction errors and greatly increases the speed of data interchange.

Data elements not identified by the same “function keys” could be usedby multiple users, but this adds another step in the transactionprocess, and introduces the possibility of more input errors.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a style sheet with data tags andfield names contained in a two-dimensional bar code, such as thatcommonly found on a driver's license.

FIG. 8 is an example of two-dimensional bar code data tags from adriver's license in which the last name “Smith” is tagged with theletters “DAB”, the data tag for the first name “John” is the letters“DAC”, etc.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of the parsed and cached data, asshown in FIG. 8, ready for input into electronic document “B”, step 127.

A system utilizing video bar codes (VBCs) and the present invention'stechnology may be used to show real-time product inventory, placeorders, route the order through an accounting system, make shippingarrangements, and forward the user a report. The process of executing anorder online requires a sequence of events to take place. A customer maywish to replenish his/her inventory, without passing through severalsystems. Retailers may utilize VBCs in web sites, WebTV, television orover other mediums to index products and services in the form of anonline catalog. Suppliers, who have traditionally been dependent onmiddleware and/or third party administrators to access and/or executeorders will be empowered to access such requests. VBCs also allowvarious enabled devices to execute order placement, processing, andfulfillment simply by using this universal medium.

When used in conjunction with a bar coded financial card, as disclosedin U.S. Patent application 60/276,203 to Melick, et al, the transactionbecomes instantaneous. Currently, most companies rely on expensiveadministrators to process electronic transactions, due in part to thecomplex systems necessary to manage this process and the varying degreeof sophistication between trading partners. VBCs are not constrained bythese considerations, and offer universal access by simply includingthem in any digital transmission.

Data entry continues to challenge companies as smaller suppliers andvenders continue to use paper-based systems. These companies, whenequipped with video bar codes may engage in collaborative commerce whiledata entry and interface considerations are minimized in host companysystems. HTML transmissions, when wrapped in e-mail offer easy-to-use,familiar, professional invoicing and order processing capabilities forevery user.

Companies, such as UPS, offer online document exchange services withvarious encryption techniques requiring a higher degree of security intransmission will now have a multitude of options available to them.Last year, UPS executed over 10 billion online document exchanges at afraction of the cost associated with paper transactions.

Applications within the medical industry are numerous, from electroniccommerce between insurance carriers, HMO's, and medical practitioners todemographic data relating to patients, etc. all requiring a unique tagor identifier. Currently, medical practitioners are overwhelmed withreports, regulations, files, drug prescriptions, and other patientinformation that requires great care in management. Not too dissimilarfrom a retailer who is managing thousands of stock keeping units, theconsequences of mismanagement in the medical industry is significant.

Medical practitioners frequently find it necessary to exchange criticalpatient data with other practitioners, pharmacies, and hospitals in atimely and accurate fashion. While not an issue within networkedsystems, the medical industry has not made investments in infrastructurenecessary to enable electronic commerce. Currently, physicianspredominately use e-Mail as their primary means of communication (55%),while only 6% use e-Mail and the internet to transport clinicalinformation. The primary issue, according to a Harris Interactive study,has been the lack of this infrastructure investment, which has left theindustry years behind other sectors. VBC technology offers to leverageoff the existing infrastructure maintained in these practices, andenable them with electronic data interchange.

As an example, in this application Document “A” 103 would be anelectronic patient's chart containing bar coded information. Document“A” 103 would be available on any computer display in the hospital. As adoctor makes his daily rounds, he would use an enabled device to captureapplicable bar coded information displayed on the patient's electronicchart for billing and record updates, and download the tagged bar codedinformation to Document “B” 122 on his disparate computer informationsystem located in his office.

Office visits that result in a prescription to be filled are currentlyphoned to a pharmacy or the patient is given an order form. This entireprocess may be streamlined electronically with VBCs containing basicdemographic data from order placement to the label that appears on aprescription. In doing so, the error rate associated with fulfillingorders would be eliminated, greater controls would exist in thedistribution of drugs, and reorders may be triggered without data entry.

As an example, in this application Document “A” 103 would be anelectronic prescription containing bar coded information. Document “A”103 would be e-mailed to the pharmacy with bar coded informationrelating to the patient information and medication required. Thepharmacist would use an enabled device to capture applicable bar codedinformation displayed on the patient's electronic prescription for inputinto Document “B” 122 on their disparate computer information system.

In financial, insurance, engineering, and law firms, there are largeamounts of paper and electronic documents being passed around daily. Theuser would benefit from the availability of these documents in afree-flowing system that could more effectively catalog and managedocuments across local networks. A document management system would useVBCs as a dynamic hyper-link to access various forms of data.

As an example, in a complicated legal proceeding Document “A” 103 wouldbe various evidence or exhibits in graphic form which are bar coded inorder to launch the court overhead projection system. Document “B” 122,which are a lawyer's electronic trial notes, operate on a disparatecomputer system would contain video bar codes which are linked to theappropriate Document “A” 103.

Law enforcement agencies and our legal system are burdened withpopulating numerous standardized forms and reports, requiring uniqueidentifiers to tag and track evidentiary materials. This industry ismoving rapidly to bar coding documents, which is currently printed,tagged, and then filed. VBCs offer to streamline this process fromautomatic ticket generation to a free-flow of information to courtrooms,law offices, police stations, and other agencies. Currently, county andmetro law enforcement agencies are unable to exchange information due todisparate systems and universal identifiers.

As an example, a city policeman would make an arrest. Document “A” 103would be the arrest report. The suspect is then taken to a county jailwhich operates on a disparate computer system. Electronic document “B”122 which is the prisoner's record, would be completed with the aid ofvideo bar coded information contained in Document “A” 103. From here thesuspect would appear in court, and information contained on Document's“A” 103 and “B” 122 would be captured and entered into yet anotherdisparate information system.

The financial industry relies on information generated from a widespectrum of sources to analyze, record, process, and reporttransactions. Some of these sources include transaction clearing houses,financial exchanges, news services, and research companies. Such systemsinclude The Dow Jones Telequote, Bloomberg, the Associated Press, ValueLine, and others electronic systems that transmit data across a videomonitor. Investment and financial professionals utilize these servicesto retrieve, process, and manipulate this data in proprietaryapplications for analysis. All of these systems utilize a one-way meansof data transmission, serving as a reporting service verses aninteractive two-way system.

As an example, Document “A” 103 would be a financial report from acompany such as Dow Jones Telequote or Bloomberg, which included VBCs.Document “B” 122 would be an order placement form running on a disparateinformation system. An enabled device would capture video bar codedinformation from Document “A” 103 and input the information intoDocument “B” 122.

While many larger institutions have customized their accounting andgeneral ledger systems, a majority of their trading partners remain ondisparate systems. In addition, small-to-medium size companies relyalmost exclusively on outsourcing the accounting function or acquirevarious prepackaged systems. Intuit, the maker of Quicken and QuickBooksdominate the prepackaged accounting software market with an estimated80% share. By utilizing VBCs with any e-mail system, basic demographicdata and billing information becomes a collaborative commerce process,without the errors associated with data entry. By using VBCs vendorswill be able to reduce their costs associated with traditionalpaper-based systems by converting to electronic forms using VBCs,develop E-commerce capabilities, and speed up the payment process. UsingQuickBooks or a similar accounting system with VBCs, allow the user toget one step closer to a paperless office, reduces the time-to-processroutine procedural tasks in an error free manner, and minimizes theuncertainties associated with outstanding unentered bills and invoices.VBCs offer accounting department managers a new method to streamline theentire accounting process. As an example, ABC Company would useelectronic document “A” 103, which would be an electronic invoicecontaining bar coded information. This document could be postedelectronically for payment by XYZ Company. XYZ Company would use anenabled device to capture the pertinent bar coded data from Document “A”103 and input into their Document “B” 122 which is a check writing formon their disparate computer system.

The insurance industry relies on sophisticated hardware and softwaresystems for claims processing, billing, and information retrieval toconduct their day-to-day business. Processing centers, and the costsassociated therewith represent a significant investment on the part ofthese companies and lack flexibility as it relates to capturing,processing, storing, and interchanging information. Insurance companiesengage in large volumes of data entry, and spend millions of dollarsevery year on interfaces, populating forms, applications, etc.Applications within this industry are not unlike other applicationsdiscussed above.

The United States federal government, state governments, and variousother public agencies maintain large databases of information that arefrequently accessed by various departments, other government agencies,and the private sector. One example relates to the property taxassessment and collection division of county governments. Mostfrequently the assessment and collection divisions rely on the sameinformation for different purposes in disparate information systems.Consequently, this requires information to be entered and re-entered byeach division. VBCs would allow relevant information to be easilyexchanged between divisions without the need for middleware or manualre-entry. Also, tagging such documents with bar codes provide a uniquetag for management control purposes, and allow various agenciesdependent on such data to share these public documents as described inother applications above.

As companies rely more and more on the Internet for marketing ande-commerce transactions, it becomes increasingly difficult to add ordelete information and make changes to on-line catalogs, databases, andInternet commerce forms. The use of VBCs virtually eliminates inputerrors, is less time consuming, requires fewer personnel, and reducesthe complexity of integrating various aspects of a company's web site.

As newer software systems replace older ones, legacy systems areincreasingly a problem within organizations. Companies have a difficulttime getting their mainframe to “talk” with their DOS system, and inturn have trouble getting that data to “talk” with their new Windows™systems. Video bar coding information in legacy systems would save a lotof time and expense coding systems to convert legacy data.

VBCs offer users a multitude of options that are easy-to-use andunderstand, bring new functionality to existing practices, and offersthe first universal means by which to communicate, through a multitudeof devices.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment and other embodiments of amethod and apparatus for tagged bar code data interchange, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of thepresent invention have been achieved. It should also be appreciated thatvarious modifications, adaptations, and alternatives may be made. It isof course not possible to describe every conceivable combination ofcomponents for purposes of describing the present invention. All suchpossible modifications are to be included within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention which is to be limited only by the followingclaims.

1. A method of data interchange, comprising: creating a document havingat least one bar code encoding data tags and data items; decoding the atleast one bar code bar code to recover the data tags and the data items;inputting the data items into an application; and wherein the data tagsare XML data tags.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one barcode includes a bar code having a one dimensional bar code format. 3.The method of claim 1 wherein at least one bar code includes a bar codehaving a two-dimensional bar code format.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein the document is an electronic document.
 5. The method of claim 4wherein the electronic document is an XML document.
 6. The method ofclaim 4 wherein the electronic document is an electronic document. 7.The method of claim 1 wherein the application is a database.
 8. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising electronically sending the documentprior to decoding the at least one bar code.
 9. The method of claim 8wherein the step of sending the document comprises sending an encryptedversion of the document.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein theapplication separates the tags from the data items.
 11. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the decoding is performed by a bar code scanner.
 12. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the application includes a bar code decoder.13. A method of data interchange, comprising: creating an electronicdocument having a bar code, the bar code encoding a plurality of datatags and a plurality of data items, the data tags used to identify thedata items; electronically sending the electronic document; scanning aprinted form of the electronic document; decoding the bar code;inputting the data items into one or more fields in an application basedon the data tags; and wherein the data tags are XML data tags.
 14. Themethod of claim 13 wherein at least one bar code uses a one dimensionalbar code format.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one barcode uses a two-dimensional bar code format.
 16. The method of claim 13wherein the electronic document is an XML document.
 17. The method ofclaim 13 wherein the electronic document is an HTML document.
 18. Themethod of claim 13 wherein the application is a database.
 19. The methodof claim 13 wherein the step of electronically sending the electronicdocument comprises sending an encrypted version of the electronicdocument.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein the application separatesthe tags from the data items.
 21. The method of claim 13 wherein thestep of decoding the bar code is performed by a scanner.
 22. The methodof claim 13 wherein the application includes a bar code decoder.
 23. Themethod of claim 21 wherein the scanner includes a parser.
 24. The methodof claim 13 wherein the application includes a parser.
 25. The method ofclaim 13 wherein the electronic document further includes at least oneadditional bar code and wherein at least one bar code is of a first typeand at least one bar code is of a second type.
 26. The method of claim25 wherein the first type is a 1-D format and the second type is a 2-Dformat.
 27. An electronic document, comprising: a plurality of XML datatags; a plurality of fields of data, each of the fields of dataassociate with at least one of the plurality of XML tags; at least onebar code associated with the electronic document, the at least one barcode encoding the plurality XML data tags and the plurality of fields ofdata.
 28. The electronic document of claim 27 wherein the electronicdocument is an XML document.
 29. The electronic document of claim 27wherein the electronic document is an HTML document.
 30. The electronicdocument of claim 27 further comprising a style sheet.
 31. Theelectronic document of claim 27 wherein at least one of the plurality ofbar codes is in a one dimensional bar code format.
 32. The electronicdocument of claim 27 wherein at least one of the plurality of bar codesis in a two-dimensional bar code.
 33. The electronic document of claim27 wherein at least one of the plurality of bar codes is of a first typeand at least one of the plurality of bar codes is of a second type. 34.The electronic document of claim 33 wherein the first type is a 1-Dformat and the second type is a 2-D format.
 35. A method of datainterchange, comprising: creating an electronic document having at leastone bar code, the at least one bar code encoding a plurality of markuplanguage data tags and a plurality of data items, the markup languagedata tags used to identify the data items; distributing the document inelectronic form; scanning the at least one bar code from a printed formof the document; decoding the at least one bar code to recover theplurality of markup language data tags and the plurality of data items.36. The method of claim 35 wherein the data tags are XML tags.
 37. Themethod of claim 35 wherein the electronic form of the document beingassociated with a style sheet.